Yu began his march towards the church, Yosuke took a steadying breath and followed close behind soon overtaking him and reaching the door first, the oak rotting away.
The two stepped in without hesitation. It was mostly empty, the shadow hidden from sight, for the time being.
The metal pillars were the same on the inside, the room empty of pews, and … the art.
The art was of every major time Yosuke was hurt. Every stab, cut, slice, possession, it was all there. Yu made eye contact with the vacant eyes of when he was possessed in heaven. The room was large, with nothing but a podium across from the room.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" a familiar but garbled voice asked. "The monument of heroes and saviors. Saving people that hated me, throwing my life away because I wanted to be a hero, to get respect, and yes, I got it, but I…"
The two of them turned to face the speaker. It was Yosuke, his hair dyed that bright orange he wore for two years. His eyes were bright yellow, framed by bright orange glasses. His skin was pale, ghastly so, with black veins stretching against his skin, making a facsimile of tears coming down his face. His body was covered, hidden from view. His smile was sharp, angry.
Voices seemed to come from everywhere. One voice, one main voice. Katasugi.
"Hi Hanamura, It's nice to see you. Who would have thought that we could have seen each other after all this time."
"He ignored me, abandoned me, and I had to be ok with it now that I see him every Tuesday and Thursday in class. I'm supposed to be ok. I have to be."
Red tears fell from the shadow's face. "I-"
Yu looked over at Yosuke, whose jaw was clenched. He was looking down at the floor, which was wooden and cracked.
"Yu, my partner, you're stronger than I could ever be. Everything- the palace's the scars, the-" The shadow stepped out from behind the podium, showing off his robe and-
The robe was made out of hands, reminiscent of the curse that Izanami cast, dragging him away. In the center of the robe, a sword, not one he used, one from a demon he took a hit from, one that knocked him down and out. And minor weapons were sticking out from where they were embedded into him. Blood dripped from the shadow, a dark liquid. "I can wish to be a hero all a want, but well, wish in one hand, shit in the other which one fills up faster." the tone was harsh. "I'm no hero."
"That's not true." Yu denied it on impulse. His instinct screamed at him to deny the self-deprecating insults.
"Yes, it is." Yosuke spoke for the first time since he entered this cathedral. "I'm not built for this."
"I feel everything so much." the shadow added a sad smile on his face.
"It's suffocating and you wear the hero mantle so well. I can't. I'm not on your level." Yosuke made eye contact with the shadow. "I accept that part of me."
The shadow shook his head. "But not the anger. Not the want to shout the achievements we've had to everyone who spits on us and our name."
"Because every good thing is still in the shadow of Junes. I have to grin and bare it." Yosuke frowned. The shadow took two fingers and painted a black smile from ear to ear. "I accept it."
The shadow began humming to himself, a song that played on the radio that they used as background sounds. Some nights I stay up, cashing in my bad luck.
Yu was shocked in silence for a heartbeat. "What do you mean, I wear it well? I just-"
"You keep knowing how to push foreward." Yosuke interrupted.
"I keep hearing you say that you're not my partner. During that grand prix. It was the only thing the shadow could use to hurt me." Yu admitted. "I put too much pressure on you. You saved me when you offered to buy me the steak. And ever since then, I was terrified of losing you."
"Partner?" the shadow asked. "But all I can do is take hits, grin, and bear it. You can bring me back."
"I don't want to lose you in the first place. You would have been friends with me even if there was no other world." Yu held the shadow's face in his hands.
Yosuke rested his forehead against Yu's shoulder.
"It's ok to be mad at this thing that we were dragged into, be mad. I am."
Yosuke took a breath. "I am. I want to be valued and people treat me like absolute garbage."
"Be mad about that, At that asshole that abandoned, I am." Yosuke and the shadow duplicate chuckled at that and the Shadow dissolved into light. Yosuke's knees buckled in exhaustion.
Yu cradled Yosuke's in his arms, pulling him to his chest. "So much pain partner."
"I'm sorry for hiding it," Yosuke mumbled.
Yu pulled Yosuke into a kiss. "I'm not one to chastise for hiding things. Let's just take The rest of the holidays easy."
"That is a great plan, partner."